ECHO Housing and Employment Support

ECHO Housing and Employment Support

About the program

Cunningham’s ECHO Housing and Employment Support Program provides comprehensive housing,
employment, and life skills development to Champaign County’s citizens who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. With the goal of providing resources that provide support towards permanent housing and employment, staff work with adults or families that have the ability to live independently with or without on-going support.

The program provides intensive case management and care coordination geared towards promoting skills and linkages to permanent housing and employment and resolving barriers. Case managers work with participants to provide assessment, planning, training, skill development, and connections to resources needed to attain a stable future. They accomplish this by taking a holistic approach to supportive services by countering possible barriers to goal stability (e.g., basic needs, child care, physical health, and mental health).

Support

Participants will receive weekly services that last until 90 days after obtaining both housing and employment. To aid in retention, participants receive a minimum of monthly contact for one year prior to closing. All participants will receive a follow up contact one year post-discharge to assure housing and employment retention. Individuals later experiencing housing or employment instability can return to the program.

See ways ECHO staff are serving our Community

Eligibility

Cunningham’s ECHO Program serves all individuals and families who are:

  1. Considered homeless or at-risk of homelessness using the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services definition;
  2. Have a prior residence in Champaign County;
  3. Intend to remain a Champaign County resident;
  4. Have the ability to live independently with or without ongoing support; and
  5. Are willing to actively engage in intensive case management services.

For more information

Contact

Penne Biggers
217.337.9059; Fax 217.367.5910
Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Leave a message for call back.

OR

Champaign County Centralized Intake Office
217.819.4117
This phone is not answered 24/7. Leave a message for call back.
This number is also the point of entry for the Emergency Shelter for Families (http://champaignil.gov/emergency-shelters/).

ECHO Housing and Employment Support PDF